Speedy justice to poor family demanded

KARACHI,A child rights group condemning the murder of a 17-year-old girl in Dadu urged the authorities concerned to immediately intervene into the matter and ensure speedy justice to the aggrieved family.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Regional Manager of the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child, Sindh, Akhtar Hussain Baloch, said the alleged murderer, Zubair Jamali, was brother of a politician “who reportedly used his political influence to hush up the matter.”

He said Safia Qureshi was allegedly kidnapped from her college on March 31 by Zubair Jamali, who later killed her upon her resistance.

Quoting reports, Mr Baloch said the hospital authorities had confirmed that Mr Jamali had brought Safia’s body to the hospital at 1am and told the officials that she had attempted suicide.

“But according to the postmortem report, she was shot at from a distance of 10-20 feet,” he said.

Safia’s relatives alleged that police were reluctant to take action against the suspect due to political pressure.

“Riaz Ahmad and Wasim Ali, who were accompanying Jamali when he handed over the body to the hospital authorities, were also released after a short detention,” the statement added.

Referring to a private TV channel, the rights group said the politician visited Safia Qureshi’s house with some area influentials and asked them to withdraw the case.

“It is learned that Safia’s parents pardoned the accused under pressure. Apparently, the compromise is a result of threat and intimidation from the stronger party,” said the statement.

Mr Baloch quoted Roma, sister of Safia, telling a human rights activist that murderer’s influential relatives were forcing them to reach a compromise.

However, she said they would go to the courts and take all possible steps to punish the culprits.

She said the accused had proposed Safia which she had rejected.

Taking it as insult, he killed her to take revenge. Safia’s brother had also complained that the family was not being provided justice due to their poverty and helplessness.

Mr Baloch asked the authorities concerned to immediately intervene into the matter and ensure justice to the victims.

He said the political party of whom the brother of the alleged murderer is an MNA should also take action against him for misusing his position.